posted at 6:17 pm on December 10, 2007 by Bryan

On Cuba, Thompson criticized Huckabee, who in 2002 asked President Bush to lift the embargo against that country, saying it “has not helped the people of Cuba.”

“He thinks we should lift the embargo against Castro. I disagree with that,” Thompson said today at the Bay of Pigs Museum in Miami. “I think it raises issues when politicians change their views on a dime to appeal to a particular group of people right before an election.” The governor recently issued a statement saying he supports the embargo.

Huckabee defended himself in Miami this morning, according to CBS News’ Joy Lin, saying his “major concern” in 2002 was to try and “revive a sagging economy” impacted by the recession. “Our rice markets were in trouble…At that time, my primary responsibility was simply to hear the concerns unique to my state,” he said.

Since then, Huckabee said, he had been able to find new markets for the rice market by going to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to find Asian markets for the state’s rice. Another reason for the policy change, explained Huckabee, was that he was “really not that aware” of the issues the issues that exist between Cuba and the United States.

“Being in Arkansas, that’s not one of the issues I am in close proximity with,” he said.

“…really not that aware” of the issues between the United States and Cuba. How is it even possible for someone who wants to be president not to know of the issues that stretch back to 1959 between the US and Cuba? Never mind the war that the US fought against Spain that ended up wresting Cuba from the Spanish empire. How could he not be aware of any of this? I was never governor of Arkansas or any other state, yet I’m aware of the issues between the US and Cuba.

Can we reasonably expect Huckabee to know the difference between a Shia and Sunni and how that might be relevant in the world today? Is that asking too much of someone who wants to run the foreign policy of the United States of America?

All this ignorance among our dear leaders is giving me a gigantic headache.

Update (AP): Here’s the video from Special Report.

Update (AP): I keep doing this piecemeal, in the course of other posts, but there are now enough examples of Huck’s ignorance or suspected ignorance in policy matters that it might be worth compiling them and putting them in their own entry. Revisit the AIDS post for a few. He thought the new NIE was four years old; he thought ICE was still known as INS; he thought Gitmo was a fine idea until he talked to some retired generals about it, and then very suddenly he didn’t; he thought the danger of transmitting HIV through casual contact was sufficient to warrant a quarantine six years after we knew it wasn’t; and now he appears to have known less about U.S.-Cuba relations than the average citizen until, at best, five years ago. And that’s not counting his adoption of the Fair Tax, which some conservatives regard as so nutty as to be practically disqualifying of any candidate who proposes it.

Here’s Mitt’s new ad, his first specifically targeting Huck, bypassing all of that and serving up some red meat. Sharp and effective. Meanwhile, Mickey Kaus and Dan Riehl both want to know why Huck’s suddenly gotten so shy about releasing his old sermons to the public. It’s not hard to guess in light of Drudge’s hit job on him this morning, but when it comes to presidential candidates, the more information we have, the better. Don’t worry about the Drudges trying to stir up garbage; if anything, that sort of thing only wins Huck votes. Let’s see the sermons.

I expect people on JayWalking to not know about Cuba and Castro….what I also expect is someone running for POTUS to know the hows and whys of how we got to where we are. Obviously Huck sees the criteria a bit differently then I do.

GovernorGoobernator Huckabee Thursday heaped criticism upon immigration legislation in the Arkansas Legislature, describing it as “inflammatory . . . race-baiting and demagoguery.” He also challenged the Christian values of its main sponsor.
Huckabee said the bill, seeking to forbid public assistance and voting rights to undocumented immigrants, “inflames those who are racist and bigots and makes them think there’s a real problem. But there’s not.”

The bill is modeled after Proposition 200, approved by Arizona voters in November. The Arkansas measure was filed by Republican Sens. Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith.

Huckabee, also a Republican and a Baptist minister, said Arkansans should be welcoming hard-working immigrants of all races. He singled out Holt, who often talks of his strong Christian beliefs, saying, “I drink a different kind of Jesus juice. My faith says don’t make false accusations against somebody.

“In the Bible, it’s called don’t bear false witness.”

In response, Holt said he was hurt by the governor’s questioning his faith.

“I just want to uphold the law and protect the benefits that apply to citizens,” Holt said.

Which one sounds like a lunatic and which one sounds like a logical thinker? If you want to go around doing the Christian good and ignoring the law go become a monk or priest and leave the enforcing of laws to those who want to do it. I can’t believe that a Governor, someone who is looked upon as a person who is wanting the law to be upheld, could stoop to a personal attack on someone who is suggesting what the majority of the public wants.
*
*More from Arkansas News – Gov. Mike Huckabee Thursday denounced a bill by Sen. Jim Holt that would deny state benefits to illegal immigrants as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.
Holt, R-Springdale, replied later that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

Senate Bill 206, filed Wednesday, also would require proof of citizenzhip to register to vote and would require state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally.

Holt replied, “I think the politically correct movement has misconstrued what compassion really means. They think compassion means that any person can disrespect our laws and that we’re supposed to be tolerant and let them get away with it.

“True compassion is correcting them so in the future they can be law-abiding citizens,” Holt said.

Amen to Jim Holt. Joe McCutchen, Chairman of Protect Arknsas NOW, a newly formed group supporting the bill had this to say.
“They broke the law,” he said. “My angst is not with them, though. My angst is with the state and federal government for not enforcing our laws.”
People living illegally in the United State has “overwhelmed our school and welfare system,” McCutchen said. As for whether the bill reflects un-Christian attitudes, McCutchen said: “Jim Holt is as good a man and as good a Christian as any man walking this Earth.”

“Doggone it, the rule of law is not being upheld, and that’s wrong,” McCutchen said.

This is all anyone needs to know about The High Reverend Huckster’s views on illegal “immigration”.

Speaking of Cuba, the way the Huckster has been lying lately, his nose must be long enough to be somewhere over Cuba by now.

Nice little piece on Huck’s speech compensation by R.J. Reynolds through a front organization, while Lt Gov. The best part is his spin. He claims he didn’t know. Several others say he did, and even met with a couple of the tobacco execs. He needs to just ‘fess up to some of this stuff and it would probably go away. Most of it is forgivable, but the constant spinning gets on my nerves.

Y’all are kind of missing the point of that original question, dontcha think. We’re not at war in any way that renders Baptists vs Mormons a relevant foreign policy question. The war we are fighting does make Shia vs Sunni relevant, though.

As things stand now, this Baptist would consider voting for the Mormon in the race and wouldn’t dream of voting for the fellow Baptist. There’s too much Gomer in that governor.

Speaking of Cuba, the way the Huckster has been lying lately, his nose must be long enough to be somewhere over Cuba by now.

MB4 on December 10, 2007 at 6:52 PM

He suffers of Münchhausen syndrome, self-inflicted factitious disorder? Or is experiencing the The Adventures of Pinocchio Huckabee?

On the Cuban embargo, I differ, but know full well that it isn’t ever going to be politically feasible. Sunshine would have eradicated that mold (as in fungi) from an otherwise regional paradise a while ago. After Fidel/Raul die, it will still be difficult for a while and the transition will be complicated somewhat by the overly eager FL Cubans. However, it will happen in my lifetime and I must, I must see a Cuba libre (because I refuse to visit a shackled one).
Fire away!

Y’all are kind of missing the point of that original question, dontcha think. We’re not at war in any way that renders Baptists vs Mormons a relevant foreign policy question. The war we are fighting does make Shia vs Sunni relevant, though.

Bryan on December 10, 2007 at 7:03 PM

No, I don’t think that I’all did miss your point

Something tells me that you may have missed mine though, as The High Reverend Huckster, and many of his supporters, seem to be fighting more of an Evangelical v. Mormon war than a Sunni v. Shiite war right now.

I like Mitt’s add. Many complain that the Christian vote always goes to the first to go pro-life. Mitt points out that he, too, has that qualification.

But illegal immigration is at least as great a threat to this country as abortion.

There’s a town near me where there are so many people living in single-family houses that the city sewer doesn’t work anymore. The inventive undocumented workers simply piped the toilets out to the gutters. The over-run of our infrastructure has got to stop!

If Evangelicals manage to get this fool nominated, I’ll be pissed! I would honestly take ANY Republican candidate over Huckabee. He doesn’t understand the issues. Hillary and Obama would chew him up and spit him out. He’s weak on illegal immigration and he’s a fiscal liberal. What else is there to know?

Good ad by Mitt, whom I have never considered voting for — but if it’s between him and Huckabee, no contest.
Huckabee needs to be hit, often and hard, on his lies, backpedaling and blatant ignorance.
The guy supported the shamnesty bill. Doesn’t that mean anything to the people supporting him?

One of the traits of HA I adore is the critical thinking, even at the cost of own ideals, the ease with which facts/ideas are checked/clarified, and the grace with which strong personalities move on/function. We’re all better for that.

Maybe there is no connection but it seems odd that Rush commented on Fred being the only true conservative and it did nothing to help him. Rush praised Mitt’s religion speech and it did nothing to help him. Chuck Norris endorses Huckabee and he rises in the polls. I was really hoping that Rush’s statements about Fred would help him, but apparently they didn’t. Too bad Mr. Norris didn’t endorse Fred.

There’s a town near me where there are so many people living in single-family houses that the city sewer doesn’t work anymore. The inventive undocumented workers simply piped the toilets out to the gutters.

Another reason for the policy change, explained Huckabee, was that he was “really not that aware” of the issues the issues that exist between Cuba and the United States.
“Being in Arkansas, that’s not one of the issues I am in close proximity with,” he said.

You’ve got to be kidding me! That is so pathetic, I’m almost at a loss for words.

Chuck Norris endorses Huckabee and he rises in the polls. I was really hoping that Rush’s statements about Fred would help him, but apparently they didn’t. Too bad Mr. Norris didn’t endorse Fred.

Rose on December 10, 2007 at 7:30 PM

It reminds me of the commercials I used to see on TV advertising music albums by artists I’d never heard of with claims to have outsold Michael Jackson many times over, (back when he was still popular). I figured their numbers were grossly misleading or outright false, they were so unbelievable, but then I learned that the artists were usually being pushed in the evangelist community and the numbers were apparently real. I was shocked to learn that so many people actually listened to, (or at least purchased), such terrible, awful music. Television and religion are powerful forces alone, but when combined they are truly phenomenal.

Huck – you are either lying through your teeth or you are as dumb as granite.

Bet he has a stash of Cubans in his humidor.

a town near me where there are so many people living in single-family houses that the city sewer doesn’t work anymore. The inventive undocumented workers simply piped the toilets out to the gutters.
Yikes! What town is that?

The problem both Fred and Romney are having is that Reagan’s conservative coalition has fractured and the splinter groups don’t want to compromise their principles any longer; they want it all. I think what they’ll get is nothing, and maybe after a few years of Clinton or Obama they’ll once again find some common ground between them.

I was never governor of Arkansas or any other state, yet I’m aware of the issues between the US and Cuba.

Perhaps you should have been Bryan. I’m so tired of illiterate, “ignorant” candidates I can’t take much more. It’s truly sad. I heard this jack-leg explain his ‘flat tax’ the other night on Beck and the fool will say anything. He’s like a fountain of answers. Only problem is his answers are foolish rhetoric, could never be executed and remind one of an ugly fool’s fantasy of running the country..

“The reason we have so much government is because we have so much broken humanity,” he said. “And the reason we have so much broken humanity is because sin reigns in the hearts and lives of human beings instead of the Savior.”…..

“Government knows it does not have the answer, but it’s arrogant and acts as though it does,” Huckabee said. “Church does have the answer but will cowardly deny that it does and wonder when the world will be changed.”

And I see it as a diversion, of Mitt and Hucks real weakness in flip flopping (Mitt) or big government (Huck)
Better to stay on the issue of Evang. vs. Mormons, then analyze either one of these guys political history.
Neither one can afford to much scrutiny, they are both hoping that people commit, and once they commit they seldom change.

Glad you posted the update about the Cuban refugees that were housed at Ft Chaffee, AR. I have first hand knowledge of it since while assigned to the 1 ID at Ft Riley my unit had to go down there and guard them a couple for a couple of months. The people of Ft Smith were great. The people we had housed at Chaffee, by the time I was there, were definelty members of Cuban society that Castro wanted to get rid of and dumped on us. A lot of the folks suffered various degrees of mental illnesses, stories available on request, and other crimminals he simply unloaded.
There is a definite Arkansas/Cuba connection, but of course older then the last 7 years for some reason just doesn’t make it on to folks radar screens anymore.
For all the candidates, we aren’t a nation suffering from collective Alzheimer’s disease.
I gave up on the Huckster a while ago when I found out about his flip flopping on taxes and tuition for illegals. He just keeps digging the hole.
Go Fred! Go Duncan!